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January 5, 2007

Could You Go Without?

I first learned aboutCompact Living when I stumbled upon this amazing and inspiring blog, Walk Slowly, Live Wildly a while back. She talks about her experience making the Compact Pledge here.

As I am working on simplifying our household, I have been cleaning out the basement, closets, etc. I was wanting a table lamp for our living room so I could read or knit comfortably on the couch without the harsh overhead lighting. I thought about maybe even buying one if I get some birthday money. Forgotten, in our basement was a perfectly good and lovely lamp, but the lamp shade wasn't the right fit and made the bulb too bright. Then I remembered I had purchased a lamp shade to go with this a while back (maybe two or three years ago?), but had never gotten around to using it. Still in the Target bag and with tags and cellophane on it and everything was the new and just-what-I-wanted lampshade!

Hubby came home and noticed the "new" lamp. I told him it was from the basement. He said "Oh, you freecycled to yourself!"

This made me realize how careless I've gotten with "things." I also found an old receipt from when hubby's car had to be towed for repairs. I had never sent it in to the insurance company to be reimbursed. We still had time, so I sent it off today- $60 that we can totally use was almost left forgotten on top of the fridge!I came across this article the other day... just reading it should at least get you to thinking...

From here on out I am going to really try to keep in mind: Do I need this item and if so, can I get it used somewhere instead?

Hey, if your are simplifying your wardrobe you can freecycle to me! :)We've always had to live pretty simply due to lack of money and space, but it will be like Christmas when we move back home and open all of the boxes of things we had forgotten about!

I think this is amazing!! Most of my clothes come from thrift stores already anyway...of course I just spent $82 on a new sling, but just think of all the money I'll save on not dissinfecting all the shopping carts!! LOL. I'm really gonna think about doing this for a year. I think the hard part is birthdays. I don't know if people will appreciate getting homemade stuff. Can you give away money???? I need more details!!

Oh I love that! What a find in the basement. That's awesome. I love when little things like that come together. I am sure that we have stuff that we don't need. Like the 8!! bags of clothes that Glen and I just cleaned out of our closets and drawers. THAT was insane!

I absolutely love Sara's blog! The first time I visited it, a month or so ago, I read the whole blog in one sitting! LOL! Simplifying has been something that we have been working on for quite a few months around here. So, reading her blog was very encouraging and full of useful tips.

I'm definitely not at a point where I would take the Compact Pledge. However, I'm increasingly more aware of what I buy and where I buy it. As I continue to grow in this area, maybe, one day, I'll take the pledge.

Wow... how inspiring. I admit that I really do love shopping, but money and a busy tot have forced us to cut down these past two years. But I still find myself thinking we have way too much stuff. Not sure I could go a whole year without purchasing, but the idea behind it is so wonderful. It not only reminds you to organize and cut back, but to reorganize your priorities as well!

One thing about the pledge (although I, too, am not fully committing or anything!) is that you can still buy things USED. Also, necessities are allowed new. But, the overall idea I think is just GRAND!

I love Sarah's blog too. I've been reading it for several months and have changed some of my thinking as a result. We are in the long process of downsizing and simplifying here too. I want to get rid of the unneccessary, so the necessary and important things in life can speak. We waste so much time on things, fixing things, buying things, thinking about things, etc. I don't want to live my life spent on things being the focus.

I am going to try. There's lots of our stuff that has been in storage for the last 17 months since we moved here and haven't had our end of the duplex finished to actually unpack. Lots I know I need but at the same time, there's lots that I know I don't. Garage Sale time is almost here!!

We have buy most things used. I loved Freecycle before we moved. (There isn't a group here!) Our limited consumerism is also due mostly to necessity. (money and space) Love to read your ideas and experiences!Here via Heidi's blog.